In 2001-02 there were over 1.4 million more international visitors to Australia than Australians travelling abroad (tables 22.7 and 22.14). Consequently, tourism continues to improve the net contribution of the travel item to Australia's balance on current account (intable 30.8 of International accounts and trade, the difference between travel services credits and debits).

22.14 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD,Number of departures

Change

no.

%

1991-92

2,173,453

2.7

1992-93

2,299,504

5.8

1993-94

2,303,964

0.2

1994-95

2,421,983

5.1

1995-96

2,624,359

8.4

1996-97

2,837,207

8.1

1997-98

3,031,897

6.9

1998-99

3,188,692

5.2

1999-2000

3,332,258

4.5

2000-01

n.y.a.

n.y.a.

2001-02

3,367,870

(a)1.1

(a) Percentage change calculated on 1999-2000. Overseas departures data for 2000-01 are not yet available due to delays in processing passenger cards.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

Australians travel abroad to visit a wide variety of destinations. As table 22.15 shows, the most popular main destination is New Zealand, accounting for 18% of Australian residents visiting other countries in 2001-02. The next most popular destinations were the United Kingdom (9%) and the United States of America (8%).

Over two-thirds (68%) of Australian residents travelling abroad in 2001-02 went for a holiday. 'Holiday' (which includes those travellers visiting friends and relatives) was the main purpose of trip for Australians travelling to all destinations.

Australians travelling for 'business' reasons accounted for 20% of Australian outbound travellers. Their main destinations were New Zealand and the United States of America.

22.15 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By country/region of main destination and main purpose of trip - 2001-02

Main purpose of trip

Business(a)

Holiday(b)

Employment

Education

Other and not stated

Total

Change on1999-2000(c)

Country/region of main destination

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

%

Fiji

9.7

95.9

1.1

0.3

6.3

113.3

5.7

New Zealand

124.2

408.5

5.8

4.4

49.3

592.2

16.9

Other Oceania

22.7

90.5

12.9

2.6

9.4

138.2

-15.2

Italy

9.8

53.7

0.4

1.8

5.2

70.8

9.4

United Kingdom

40.6

230.3

12.7

3.6

20.9

308.0

-6.7

Other Europe

48.1

219.4

6.1

6.3

26.1

305.9

-0.4

Indonesia

27.7

218.4

5.5

2.6

16.8

270.9

5.5

Malaysia

29.2

68.3

3.5

0.7

7.8

109.5

-13.3

Philippines

9.3

42.3

0.5

0.2

6.0

58.3

4.9

Singapore

56.5

83.6

7.2

2.3

13.6

163.2

11.9

Thailand

22.5

128.6

1.6

1.0

9.7

163.4

10.6

China

40.5

65.4

3.5

3.4

8.5

121.3

40.6

Hong Kong (SAR of China)

39.9

84.1

7.1

1.6

9.3

142.0

-5.1

Other Asia

67.6

193.1

12.5

7.0

23.5

303.7

13.4

United States of America

88.5

151.5

9.0

5.5

21.5

276.0

-26.1

Other America

13.8

70.3

2.1

1.2

7.4

94.8

0.9

Middle East and North Africa

11.0

51.3

4.7

1.1

8.8

77.0

0.5

Other Africa

12.4

37.3

1.9

1.1

4.1

56.8

-1.7

Not stated

0.3

1.8

0.2

-

0.2

2.5

-83.3

Total

674.2

2,294.4

98.2

46.6

254.4

3,367.9

1.1

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.(c) Data for 2000-01 are not yet available, so the percentage change has been calculated on 1999-2000.

The long distances Australian residents travel to other countries are reflected in the length of time spent per trip. In 2001-02 only 13% stayed abroad less than a week (predominantly business travellers), while almost a third (32%) stayed away for at least a month (table 22.16).

22.16 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip-2001-02

Main purpose of trip

Business(a)

Holiday(b)

Employment

Education

Other and not stated

Total

Proportion of total

Intended length of stay

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

%

Under 1 week

234.7

166.8

5.1

3.5

22.0

432.1

12.8

1 week and under 2 weeks

201.2

669.9

7.5

10.6

100.0

989.2

29.4

2 weeks and under 1 month

124.5

690.0

7.9

10.1

49.7

882.1

26.2

1 month and under 2 months

51.0

435.3

11.7

5.1

29.5

532.5

15.8

2 months and under 3 months

20.7

136.6

9.3

2.8

14.1

183.5

5.4

3 months and under 6 months

21.8

116.2

16.8

5.0

15.7

175.5

5.2

6 months and under 12 months

20.4

79.4

40.1

9.6

23.4

173.0

5.1

Total

674.2

2,294.4

98.2

46.6

254.4

3,367.9

100.0

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.

While the number of Australian residents departing for visits abroad varies from month to month, there are not large seasonal fluctuations. The highest number of departures in 2001-02 were in September and December (9.9% each), while February recorded the lowest number of departures (6.5%) (table 22.17).

22.17 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By month of departure and main purpose of trip-2001-02

Main purpose of trip

Business(a)

Holiday(b)

Employment

Education

Other and not stated

Total

Proportion of total

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

%

2001

July

58.6

217.8

6.7

3.8

26.6

313.5

9.3

August

56.9

200.4

8.1

3.8

22.5

291.7

8.7

September

59.6

236.9

5.4

9.1

22.1

333.0

9.9

October

55.6

159.8

8.7

3.2

19.1

246.5

7.3

November

51.3

148.8

7.1

3.1

17.0

227.4

6.8

December

31.4

266.0

7.9

3.8

24.2

333.2

9.9

2002

January

50.4

151.9

12.0

5.2

19.9

239.5

7.1

February

52.8

134.7

8.9

2.1

20.2

218.6

6.5

March

63.6

187.2

7.6

2.5

22.6

283.5

8.4

April

66.7

172.9

8.6

3.3

16.4

267.9

8.0

May

63.3

200.3

9.0

2.3

19.6

294.5

8.7

June

64.1

217.7

8.1

4.5

24.2

318.6

9.5

Total

674.2

2,294.4

98.2

46.6

254.4

3,367.9

100.0

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.

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